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Originally posted by gohaze:
Next time you are on a ship write a personal letter to the Chief Engineer telling him why you'd like to see his empire. You never know unless you ask.
....peter

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And why not!!! Thanks Peter, - cruising early May, will let you know if it works!

Yes I make it a point to always visit the engine room, however, I do it in a more unorthodoxed way by just going down there like I know what I'm doing....most crew members won't question you, or ask why you are down there. I must have an authoritative presence or something because I just walk down into the engine room like I know where I'm going and no one seems to care. I will say that having been in many engine rooms I know what to look for and what to watch out for. I wear earplugs cause it's very loud. I always bring my camera. Sometimes I will even stop and chat with the engineer. I wouldn't recommend that others do what I do because, there are things to watch out for and certain times when it's just not good timing to be in an engine room. Surprisingly, access to the engine rooms are rarely blocked or locked.

Here's the engine room of the QE2....

Here's the starting platform in the engine room of the Rembrandt...

And finally, here's a picture taken in 1979. I was told that my photos of the ss United State's engine room are among the first ever civilian photos.

Hope you enjoy these photos...

Barryboat

It was fascinating too being down in the realm of blue blazes and superheated steam. We were escorted, with plenty of time allowed for photos, into both main engine rooms, by the four water tube boilers, and down the two shaft alleys. We also saw the sea chest and evaporators in the lower engine room.

The DELTA QUEEN and AMERICAN QUEEN also allow and encourage passenger visits to their engine rooms. The MISSISSIPPI QUEEN's engine room was designed and squeezed in with a shoe horn and Vaseline, so no visiting there. But there are large windows for passengers to view the proceedings though. And labeled diagrams nearby of what you're looking at are thoughtfully provided.

Homebound from Japan (WW-II)and an approved visit to the engine room of the late Matson's "Monterey." Although it was in 1947, I remember a pressurized fireroom, entering through double doors similar to a NASA airlock; peering through the viewports at the inferno in the boilers, and the pyrometer by which flame temperatures were monitored; the noise more of the blowers than the turbines; the silence aft of the turbines where the shafts revolved; and the shipshape cleanliness of the total system.

Then, in 1960, the engine room of the "Kungsholm" of that era. With SAL permission, I was wielding a 16mm Filmo, with the intention of making a documentary. With Bridge cooperation, the engine room telegraph cycled to "Stop" from "Full Ahead;" the Chief Engineer cut his throttles; the rpms dropped to zero; and the roar of the diesels ceased. (this in Mid-Atlantic, mind you). Then, when I had taken the requisite footage, I gave the word to the Bridge for the "Ahead" signal, which proptly appeared and the throttles were opened again. (I wonder if anyone else on the ship noticed!) Andeven if the Ship's Electrician blew out my photo lights in the process, I got the footage.

And I recall the gigantic end-wrench, suspended on the bulkhead, to be moved into position by an overhead crane, should it be necessary to pull a piston or such.

And this was a noisy engine room as (as I remember) 8500 HP diesels are not quitet pieces of machinery.

There were other visits to engine rooms in "my" steam-turbine MM ships on voyages in Asia.

Yes, while a consultant for the US Department of Energy, I visited the S.S."Energy Independence," A collier,(I do not remember the tonnage but it was less than 50,000-tons), the ship was owned by the New England Electric Power Company,(I believe that is the name).

The shiip traversed US East Coast waters, transporting Applachian "steam coal" from US Tidewater Ports to feed coal-fired power plants in New England. Many of these plants were fueled by coal barges for the previous century!

Boileer fuel was pulverized coal. The "stokers" and the "black gang" of the early part of the century were nowhere in sight. The whole combustion operation was similar to a modern, clean-burning, coal-fired electric power plant, except that steam turbines turned screws rather than electric generators.

I was given a tour of the vessel while the ship was being loaded at the B&O coal piers in Baltimore, MD.

There may be other contemporary coal-fired vessels, but this ship was considered to be innovative, and design were considered to lessen dependence on oil.

I retired from the energy business that year, and do not know if other such ships were placed in service.

And, I noted that there was a fine patina of coal dust in even the control room of the engine room. But it could have come from the loading of coal, not the operation of the ship.

Don't expect to get in the engine room though. I was told by the main office when I booked that all I had to do was ask the Cruise Director onboard to visit the engine room. Which of course I did. The Cruise Director's quills raised and she let me know that it couldn't be done and further more it is against U.S.Coast Guard regulations. She also refused to call the Chief Engineer when I pleaded for his intersession. Well, I attempted to explain that visiting the engine room is indeed permissable and that there is no such reg. She threw a thick, bound copy of the U.S.C.G regs at me and said, "Show me!". I left mumbling and wondering if America can survive as a service society.

Nevertheless The BADGER is worth riding as she is a vital link to America's merchant marine past. Who knows maybe that Cruise Director is gone and if you stumble across the Chief Engineer you just might get to see those Skinner Uniflows pluggin' away and watch the boilers being fired. The line has a web site www.lakemichigancarferry.com and their toll free number is (888) 562-7245.

Gohaze and Gerry are absolutely right, the engine room and off limits areas to passengers are to be taken seriously. I worked on the ships so I would usually get to know the engineers and the Bridge officers. Yes I would alway try to visit the Bridge, but I would ask permission.